Why Should We Seek Humility?

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you? But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

Back when I was an intern at a television station, I remember when Dan Rather was named anchor of the CBS Evening News. At the time, with Peter Jennings at ABC and Tom Brokaw at NBC, that solidified the evening news lineup. This was before cable networks like CNN and FOX, so one of their contemporaries, a news anchor at our local station said, “It’s humbling to realize I will never be the anchor of a network news program. That position has passed me by.” He made it as far as he was destined to go.

In the same way, at my age, I know I will most likely not have the platform that women like Pricilla Shirer or Beth Moore have. I often jokingly say, “I get Beth Moore’s leftovers.” God has called me to smaller groups of women, to more intimate settings, and I am not complaining. I know that whatever speaking engagements or opportunities I receive, they occur because the Lord brought them to me.

He whispered my name in someone’s ear.

He gave me favor in another city.

He opened the door.

I am nothing without the Lord.

Humility is important to our Heavenly Father.

He wants us to understand our place in his kingdom.

That’s why his Word says things like:

“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

“…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

I am finally learning to let go of my expectations, and to rest in the plan God has for me.

What about you?

I desire to humbly place my life in his hands because he knows what’s best.

My life was created by God and it belongs to him.

Do you feel your life belongs to God?

John the Baptist, who paved the way for Jesus’ entry into the world, understood humility. He said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

The Apostle Paul, who had an impressive resume, said he’d gladly give it all up if it meant not knowing Christ. He referred to his accomplishments as “garbage” (Philippians 3:7-11).

Jesus set the example. Although he was God, he displayed the ultimate act of humility. “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8).

How do you view your life? Your accomplishments?

Are you in charge, or is God?

The Lord wants us to acknowledge he is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He wants us to realize he has provided everything we have. Our dependence on God is what gets his attention.

Zephaniah 2:3 encourages us to seek humility. It is contrary to human nature, so we have to practice it, and ask the Lord to show us how he sees us, not how we see ourselves. Today, I am asking God to show me how to achieve a greater humility because it’s required, and I know it is a contrite heart that pleases him.